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10 Tips for the Best Trip to Disney World Orlando

12/11/2019 by Louise Leave a Comment

Ah, Disney World! The resort that’s said to be the happiest place on Earth and where dreams really do come true. Disney World is a truly magical place where there’s something for everyone and memories are made to last a lifetime.

But, of course, it’s not always that easy! Disney World is pretty expensive, can cause a lot of unwanted stress and can be confusing at times. In which case, it’s best enjoyed armed with plenty of tips and tricks and having all of your Disney-related questions answered before you go. This way, you can make the most of your day at Disney, enjoy it more and not find you’ve wasted your time or money.

So, for today’s post, I’m sharing my top tips for the best trip to Disney World. And, hopefully, they’ll help make your trip to Orlando just that little more magical. Read on to find out more …

01. BOOK YOUR DISNEY WORLD TICKETS BEFORE YOU GO

The best way to ensure you get a great deal on your trip to the parks is to buy your Disney World tickets before you go. I always purchase my Disney Orlando tickets for the family from Attraction Tickets Direct as it means we don’t have to queue for them at the gate when we arrive, and we get to spend more time in the parks too. Websites like Attraction Tickets Direct often have special offers on where you can buy ticket bundles that combine other nearby attractions in with your park tickets at a special discounted price, so it’s always worth checking them out before you go.

02. MAKE SURE YOU HAVE A DISNEY WORLD PLAN GOING IN

All of the Disney World Parks are huge, which can make them complicated to figure out. My top tip here would be to plan out your must-see rides and attractions for the day, know when the parades and fireworks are on and just have a general idea of how you’d like your day to go. Try to group rides that are close to each other if you can as well, as all of this will lead to less stress, less time outside in the hot sun and more time spent having fun!

03. ARRIVE BEFORE DISNEY WORLD OPENS TO MAKE THE MOST OF YOUR PASSES

It should go without saying, but the easiest way to make the most of your Disney World Passes is to simply spend the entire day there. Not only that – but if you’ve already entered Disney World before it actually opens you can be the first in line and not have to endure some of the ridiculous wait times that tend to occur later on in the day. My top tip here would be to get some of the more popular rides out of the way first so you can relax and enjoy the rest of your day!

04. PACK YOUR BAG PROPERLY

As well as all the usual things you can’t take into Disney World such as alcohol, weapons, drugs or anything illegal, there are loads of other things you can’t take in with you either. And these are things like suitcases or large backpacks, toy guns or water pistols, folding chairs, selfie sticks, tripods, drones glass containers, plastic straws or pets, just to name a few.

Some of these are to be expected – and some not so much. But Disney World security is no joke and if anything you shouldn’t have is found on you they will ask you to return them to your car or throw them away, so it’s always best to pack your bag and items correctly beforehand. You can check out the full up-to-date list of prohibited items by clicking here.

05. TAKE PLENTY OF SNACKS TO AVOID WASTING TIME IN QUEUES

The food at Disney World can be expensive. And, worse still, the queues to get food at peak times can be huge, meaning it can take well over an hour to get served. My advice here would be to take plenty of snacks in with you to keep you going in between meals. I’d also recommend downloading the Disney World App as you can make reservations at your favourite on-site restaurants while you’re on the go, which can be a big help!

You can also get free water at Disney World at any stand that sells food and drinks – so no need to carry around heavy water bottles or pay for drinks that you don’t really want. However, it has to be said that some of the restaurants are fantastic and will add to your whole Disney World experience. We especially love the Satu’li Canteen at Pandora and I highly recommend checking it out while you’re there! And there are some great allergen-free menus to be found across Disney World Orlando too for anyone who needs them.

06. DOWNLOAD THE DISNEY WORLD APP AND BOOK YOUR FAST PASSES EARLY

I think this is probably the best Disney World Tip I can give you. Download the Disney World App, study the park, and as soon as you have booked your Disney World tickets you can log in and get up to three fast-passes in advance for any one day to enable you to skip the line at all the most popular rides. It’s an absolute game changer!

These days pretty much everyone does this though, so I recommend booking your tickets 30 days in advance so you are ready when fast passes are released. You should try using them as fast as possible as well because once you’ve used up your original allocation you can get some more! All you have to do is keep booking them on the app.

And as well as being able to book fast passes on the app, you can also find out where all the character meet-and-greets are, reserve a table at your favourite on-site restaurant, and much more.

07. ASK DISNEY WORLD STAFF TO TAKE PHOTOS ON YOUR CAMERA

Whenever people are talking to me about their Disney World holiday’s, they usually have a little bit of a moan about how expensive their Disney PhotoPass was. Now, for those of you who haven’t been to Disney before, the PhotoPass is basically a professional photo service that’s offered in exchange for a fee at all Disney theme parks, water parks and resorts. The photographers are usually positioned at various locations throughout the theme parks, dining events at the resorts, and at the Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique at Disney Springs in Walt Disney World or inside the Disneyland Resort.

However, if you want to capture some great memories on camera without spending a small fortune then you can just track down the characters or the view you want, and any Disney World staff member will be happy to use your phone or camera to take a picture of you. Perfect!

08. TAKE A BREAK

No-one can do a full day in the Disney World sun without getting utterly exhausted. I’d suggest getting any big rides you want to do out of the way at the beginning of the day (or leave them right until the end) and plan for the sit-down shows from 2 pm-5 pm when the sun is at its hottest.

Of course, you’ll likely need more breaks than this, so try to minimise your time in the sun and take your time in the air-conditioned shops or cafes and enjoy a well-deserved rest. You’ll be thankful for it later!

09. HIRE A CAR IN ORLANDO TO MAKE LIFE EASIER

This next one goes hand in hand with getting there early, but unless you are staying at a Disney World Resort close to your park, I’d highly recommend hiring a car to get you from A to B while you’re in Orlando. Assuming you can drive, of course!

There are shuttles offered by budget hotels in Orlando, but to be honest they can be a bit of a disaster and will most likely ensure you end up getting to the park much later than you expected. Car rental from the airport is cheap and easy, and while parking at Disney World costs $20 a day, this allows you to pretty much drive to the entrance of every park (except for the Magic Kingdom, which has a monorail).

Oh, and another little tip for this one is to either write down where you parked your car or mark it on a map. As after a long day at Disney World you will undoubtedly have forgotten where you parked it! LOL.

10. SAVE THE BEST DISNEY WORLD PARK UNTIL LAST

And last, but certainly not least, save the park you are most excited for till last so you always have something to look forward to while you’re there. I recommend the Magic Kingdom for the final day as the fireworks shows alone are something you will never forget, but if you are a massive Avatar fan you might want to leave Pandora till last, for example.

And there you have it, my top 10 tips for the best trip to Disney World Orlando. I hope you found it useful.

Have you ever been to Disney World in Orlando before?
If so, what would your top tip for a brilliant day out be?
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10 Tips for the Best Day at Universal Studios Orlando

19/04/2019 by Louise 5 Comments

Heading to Universal Studios Orlando? Make the most of your visit with my ten money and time-saving Universal Studios tips. They’ll ensure your trip to the theme parks goes brilliantly. Read on to find out more …

01. BUY YOUR UNIVERSAL STUDIOS TICKETS BEFORE YOU GO

The best way to ensure you get a great deal on your trip to the parks is to buy your Universal Studios tickets before you go. I purchase mine from Attraction Tickets Direct as it means we don’t have to queue for tickets at the gate when we arrive, and we get to spend more time in the parks too. Websites like Attraction Tickets Direct often have special offers on as well, where you can buy ticket bundles that combine other nearby attractions in with your park tickets at a special discounted price, so it’s always worth checking them out before you go.

02. EXPLORE ONE PARK PER DAY

One of the best ways to divide up your time at Universal Studios is to tackle just one park per day. Spend one day at Universal Studios Orlando exploring Diagon alley, seeing the Simpsons attractions, and riding the Rip Ride Rockit. Then take on all the great rides in Islands Of Adventure the day after. Save your last day for the brand new Volcano Bay water theme park. You’ll have more time to spend on rides and enjoying the park if you avoid bouncing between them all during the day. Map out your plan of attack before heading to the park of your choice in the morning.

03. USE THE SINGLE RIDER LINES

If you’re the sort of person who doesn’t mind riding alone, you can save loads of time in the parks by using the single rider lines. Just jump in the single rider lines when you get close to the front and you’ll find yourself having a lot more time to ride all of the rides at Universal Studios. A bonus is that your friends won’t hear you scream this way either!!

04. DOWNLOAD THE UNIVERSAL ORLANDO RESORT APP

Of course, there’s an app for that! Before you hit the park download the Universal Orlando Resort App. From there, you’ll have park maps, current wait times for rides, show schedules, dining options, and even the option to buy tickets directly from your phone. It’s most definitely worth downloading for your visit!

05. DON’T TAKE TOO MUCH STUFF INTO THE PARKS

Most rides at Universal Studios Orlando don’t allow you to take bags or backpacks on with you, so minimise what you take into the park. I’d suggest keeping it really simple and just taking along your phone, camera and wallet or purse. Anything else you might need can be found in the park.

06. PACK A BAG THAT WILL FIT INTO THE ON-SITE LOCKERS

If you really can’t get by with just your pockets for everything you need while in the parks then be sure to pack a bag that will fit into the on-site lockers. There are 3 locker sizes available to use at Universal Orlando:

Mini -$8 a day
Regular – $12 a day
and Family-sized -$15 a day

And you can access your locker all day as many times as you need to.

07. RIDE THE HOGWARTS EXPRESS BETWEEN THE PARKS

Don’t just walk between the theme parks – have an experience while being transported between Universal Studios Orlando and the Islands of Adventure! The Hogwarts Express will take you between the two parks while entertaining you on your journey at the same time. It’s an absolute must-do for Harry Potter fans everywhere!

08. LOGIN TO THE PARKS FREE WIFI

Worried about staying connected while you’re in the parks? Don’t be! Universal Studios Orlando offers free wifi that works pretty much everywhere in the park. This means you can save your data while travelling and use their wifi to post your amazing holiday snaps to social media or face-time with the friends and family who stayed at home. Brilliant!

09. EAT AT CITYWALK

I think it’s safe to say the days of food at theme parks being overpriced and not really that great is over with. Good food can be found throughout the parks, but our favourite restaurants are found over in Universal’s CityWalk, which is located at the gates in front of both Islands of Adventure and Universal Studios Orlando. CityWalk is open to the public, so there’s no ticket needed. CityWalk has loads of different restaurants to suit everyone, and some of our favourites have to be Voodoo Doughnut, The Cowfish, Hard Rock Cafe and Antojitos Authentic Mexican. Yum!

10. USE THE CHILD SWAP ROOMS IF YOU’RE THE PARENT OF A YOUNG CHILD

If you’re visiting Universal Studios with young children who might not be able to ride all the rides it doesn’t mean that you can’t enjoy them either. Parents can use the child swap rooms to take turns riding the rides while the others wait with the little ones who aren’t able to ride. You might well have visited because of the kids, but that doesn’t mean that you can’t have a little fun too!

Have you ever been to Universal Studios in Orlando before?
If so, what would your top tip for a brilliant day out be?
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Top 10 Travel Goals 2019

22/01/2019 by Louise 47 Comments

**VOTING IS OPEN! IF YOU’D LIKE TO VOTE FOR ME YOU CAN DO SO BY CLICKING HERE, THEN CLICKING THE VOTE BUTTON UNDER MY NAME – WITH LOVE FROM YOU – THANKS GUYS **

Over the last couple of years, I’ve found myself wanting to visit more and more places with the kids before they grow up and leave home. But it wasn’t until last year that I actually found the confidence to just jump on a bus or train and take them away by myself. Crazy, huh? Anyway, back in January 2018 we sat down together and made a list of 12 places we’d love to visit over the course of the year. And although we only ticked a few of them off of the list, we thoroughly enjoyed our time at the places we did visit.

This year, we decided to make a list of our top 10 travel goals for 2019. And even though I honestly don’t think we’ll be able to cross them all off the list before the year comes to an end, we’re determined to give it our very best shot! So, without further ado, let me tell you about all the lovely places we’d really love to visit this year!

01. Calypso Cove

OK, so the first place on our list is actually exactly the same as it was last year! And that place is the Calypso Cove Waterpark in Barnsley. The waterpark can be found in the Metrodome Leisure Complex, and it has 3 different pools for the whole family to enjoy. I’ve been promising the kids we could visit Calypso Cove for so long now, but we’ve still never been. However, I know for a fact that we’ll be visiting this year as I’ve organised a coach trip from our home town during February Half Term. Eek!

As well as having the 3 different pool areas, Calypso Cove is home to 3 amazing looking flumes, a slide that’s perfect for little ones to use as it goes down into the shallow end of the pool, and a fantastic four-lane open slide that’s great for racing down with your friends! There’s even a diving board made to look and feel as if you’re about to walk the plank. How cool is that!?

After your swim, you can enjoy a tasty treat at The Hideout poolside restaurant. It looks like they do some really delicious snacks and meals, and I’ll definitely be taking the kids to eat there when we finally go for our swim. I’m really glad we’re finally crossing this off our bucket list of places we’d like to visit this half term, as like I mentioned before, the kids have been wanting to check it out for years. I can’t wait to see their little faces when we arrive! Priceless.

02. Crete

Next up on my list of places I’d love to travel to this year is the Greek island of Crete. My kids have never been abroad before. And, if I’m honest, I can’t really remember what it feels like to travel out of the country myself. It’s been that long! When we were looking at booking a foreign holiday last year we came across the TUI Sensatori Resort Atlantica Caldera Palace in Crete, and it looks like an absolutely amazing place to stay for people who maybe haven’t been abroad before and want to make everything as easy as possible.

The resort can be found in Analipsi, a traditional village that’s home to a handful of cafés, bars and beach shops. And as it’s all-inclusive, it means we wouldn’t have to head out every evening to find someone affordable to eat. It has 6 pools, a spa with 23 treatment rooms, 7 restaurants and lots of different areas to keep the kids entertained. It even has free wi-fi so I could even take my laptop with me and do a bit of blogging if I wanted to … nah, who am I kidding!? If we were lucky enough to stay here I’d definitely want to be relaxing rather than working!

I’ve been reading up on Crete a lot over the last few months, and it’s the biggest of the Greek Islands, with lots of lovely things for families to do there. I think Oscar would love to take a Pirate Ship Cruise. And Stacey would be in her element exploring nearby Chrissi Island. I really hope that we can visit the island later this year as I know the kids would be in their element.

03. LEGOLAND

It will be Oscar’s 6th birthday this May (I know, I know! Where has the time gone!?) And the one present he’s asked for is to take a trip down to LEGOLAND! Now, I only really wanted to visit for the day, as it’s quite an expensive place to go. But due to us living in the middle of nowhere, we’d most definitely have to make a weekend of it or we’d only be able to spend a couple of hours in the park.

LEGOLAND is somewhere both myself and Stacey have wanted to visit for a long time too. So I know we’d all enjoy spending time there. There looks to be lots of different LEGO ‘Worlds’ to explore once you’re inside. And I reckon Oscar would love NINJAGO World and Pirate Shores, and Stacey would definitely enjoy Heartlake City. She had loads of LEGO Friends playsets when she was younger. And, me? Well, as long as there’s somewhere I can sit and build for half an hour or so I’ll be a happy bunny. I mean, I like to think of myself as being quite the master builder!

If we did manage to travel down for Oscar’s birthday, I’d really like to stay in one of the themed rooms in the LEGOLAND hotel. If you hadn’t already noticed, he’s crazy about pirates, so I think one of their pirate themed rooms would be right up his street. They’re all decked out with pirate bedding, curtains, wallpaper, and more! It would be a real birthday treat. Keep everything crossed for us with this one, guys.

04. The Algarve

The next place on my bucket list of places to travel to in 2019 is The Algarve in Portugal. And this is somewhere I’ve been wanting to visit in what feels like forever. In fact, I’ve mentioned it so many times here on my blog in the past that I’m sure you guys must be getting sick and tired of hearing about it! LOL.

It would be my dream to stay in a lovely villa in The Algarve with the whole family, although it’s absolutely huge, so I’d probably need a private jet to get us there. LOL. How much does a private jet cost to rent? Does anyone know? Anyway, I’d preferably like to hire a villa with a private pool so the kids can go for a swim whenever they wanted. And I could take lots and lots of lovely photographs of them enjoying themselves without having to worry about being told off because I might get other people’s children in them.

As well as spending lots of time just relaxing, and splashing in the pool, I’d love to check out the local area and maybe go on a boat trip or something. It looks like The Algarve has a lot to offer, and I’d really love to explore it. I know that Stacey would enjoy it too, as she’s always saying how much her friends love their foreign holidays. I’d love to take my two abroad just once before they grow up.

05. Iceland

Another place I’d love to visit outside of the UK is Iceland. And I’m not gonna lie – this is mainly because I’d love to see the Northern Lights! I mean, who wouldn’t? The Northern Lights are a natural phenomenon that doesn’t always appear when you might expect them. So I definitely wouldn’t travel to Iceland just to try and see them. Which is why it’s a good thing there are loads of other things to do out there.

The first thing on my list would be to go waterfall hunting, as I’m absolutely mesmerised by them! I just think there’s something breathtaking about watching the water plunge from a great height into a stream or river below. And Iceland is said to be full of jaw-dropping waterfalls that are amazing to see. And I’d also like to snorkel through the Silfra Fissure – the only place in the world where you can swim through two tectonic plates – the North American and Eurasian continental plates. Imagine how cool it would be to one day tell the grandkids about that time you swam between two continents!? Amazing!

Visiting Iceland would be an absolute dream come true for me. And I just know I’d enjoy every second of my trip there. I think it’s the ultimate travel bucket list destination at the moment, isn’t it? It’s most definitely a place that’s increasing in popularity each year.

06. Lumsdale Valley, Matlock

As we’re lucky enough to live on the Nottinghamshire/Derbyshire border, I thought it would be nice to try and take the kids out to explore the local area more this year. And I’d love to start by taking them to the wonderful Lumsdale Valley in Matlock, a true hidden gem that can be quite tricky to find!

Lumsdale Valley is the perfect place to visit if you enjoy walking as not only is it absolutely beautiful, but it’s steeped in history too. The recommended walking route begins at the top of the valley, in Upper Lumsdale, in the layby opposite the carpark entrance to Highfields Upper School. The trail takes you past remnants of buildings from a bygone age, and there are information boards at poignant locations telling you all about the valley’s industrial past. These capture the history of the area perfectly and really bring the trail to life.

The trail also takes you past some beautiful natural waterfalls, and the scenery is just so breathtaking that it’s definitely not a place you’ll want to miss visiting if you’re ever in the area. It really is a beautiful place to explore, whatever the weather. And I’d really love to go back again this year.

07. Disneyland Paris

Another place that featured on last year’s travel bucket list that we never got round to visiting was Disneyland Paris! There was actually a very selfish reason for me wanting to go to Disneyland Paris last year. And that was because Stacey was supposed to be going on a school trip to Paris with school this year, and one of the places they were going to be visiting while they were there was Disneyland. And since I always imagined that I’d be the first person to see her reaction if we were ever lucky enough to visit, I wanted to try and take her before she went with her friends. That’s so bad, isn’t it!?

Anyway, shortly after writing up my post on places I’d love to take the kids last year, I came down with pneumonia and was really poorly. So instead of going to a friends party one Saturday night, she decided to stay home and keep me company. And that was when some of her so-called ‘friends’ started bullying her. The bullying went on for months and the school refused to do anything about it.

So, in July, I applied for a place at a local college who were happy to take on children under 16 to do their GCSE’s, and she was accepted! But she’s obviously missing out on the trip she was looking forward to now, so I’m determined to get to Disneyland this year. Even if it’s only for the day. I just know both she and Oscar would love it as we’re kind of Disney crazy in our house.

If any of you guys have been to Disneyland Paris before and have any tips for booking a trip away, please let me know in the comments below. I always think the booking process looks super scary, and I don’t want to mess it all up if we do finally get the chance to go!

08. Cherry Tree, Great Yarmouth

Every single year Nathan and I find ourselves booking a holiday to Hemsby, near Great Yarmouth, because we love the area so much. But we’ve both admitted that we’re getting a little fed up of being in the same place now. So we’ve decided that we’re going to stay at a Parkdean site called Cherry Tree this year instead.

We’ve been to Cherry Tree in the past, and the kids love it because there’s a nice big pool, a fancy dining area, and a kids club to keep them entertained throughout the day. Stacey once made a monkey pizza at the kids club when she was younger. It looked awesome!

There’s always loads to do in Great Yarmouth, which is why we go back year after year. The kids love walking around the Model Village, going on the rides at the funfair and taking boat trips on the Norfolk Broads. And Cherry Tree is a great place to stay as it’s not too far from all the action! This year I’ve been reading a lot about places such as Holkham Hall and Wells-next-the-sea, which we’ve never been to before, and I think I’m going to suggest to Nathan that we visit them both during our stay as they sound just lovely.

09. Sundown Adventureland

Last summer, Nathan and I took Oscar to a place called Sundown Adventureland for the day. And we all thoroughly enjoyed it. So much so, in fact, that Oscar has already asked to go back several times this year! Sundown Adventureland (formerly known as Pets Corner), is an under 10’s theme park based in Retford, Notts. And even though it’s slightly rundown and in need of an update, there’s something charming about it that you can’t help but love!

There are loads of different rides and attractions to be found at Sundown, and Oscar loved that it’s home to an awesome Angry Birds Activity Park! We found that we could go on the majority of rides with him, which is always good when you’ve got younger children, and the ones we couldn’t go on were more than suitable for his age and ability. And it has an absolutely huge indoor play area as well. It was absolutely red hot when we visited last May, so there weren’t many kids in the play area, which meant Oscar could play safely on his own.

As well as Sundown having lots of rides and attractions, there’s a lovely little cafe where you can grab a bite to eat at a reasonable price too. I think this made a big difference to our visit as we were expecting to spend a small fortune while we were there. The food was delicious too. We will definitely be taking him back later on in the year, and I know he can’t wait!

10. Disney Cruise

And last but certainly not least, I would love to take the kids on a Disney Cruise this year! We all love being out on the water, so I think a cruise would make the perfect holiday for us. And one that comes with a little added Disney magic would be even better. Don’t you agree?

Disney Cruise’s combine a trip around lots of different destinations, but are made extra special by having the added Disney element! For example, you can meet your favourite characters on board. And have certain meals with them, just like you can at Disneyland. The cruise ships look absolutely incredible, and there are plenty of dining options, kids clubs, and evening entertainment to keep the whole family happy.

I just know my two would be over the moon if I ever announced we were going on a Disney cruise, but I have to be honest and say it’s likely to be the one thing on my list that we won’t get to do this year. Purely because they tend to be quite pricey. A girl can dream, though. Can’t she!?

And there you have it, my top 10 travel goals for 2019. I hope you enjoyed having a read, and that it’s inspired you to check out a few new places this year as well.

Have you ever visited any of the places on my list?
Don’t forget to let me know in the comments below.
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12 Places I’d Love to Take My Kids This Year

16/01/2018 by Louise 45 Comments

Over the past few years, I’ve found myself wanting to visit more and more places with the kids before they grow up and fly the nest. But it wasn’t until recently that I actually found the confidence to just jump on a bus or train and take them away by myself. And while I still have this new found confidence, I really want to make the most of it, and take them to more places than ever this year.

So, for today’s post, I thought I’d compile a list of 12 places I’d love to take them this year. I honestly don’t think we’ll be able to cross them all off the list before 2018 comes to an end, but we’re going to give it our best shot! OK, then. Are you sitting comfortably? Then let me tell you about all the lovely places we’d really love to visit this year!

01. Calypso Cove

The first place on our list is actually somewhere I’ve been vowing to take the kids for a good couple of years now. But we still haven’t been! And that place is the Calypso Cove Waterpark in Barnsley. The waterpark can be found in the Metrodome Leisure Complex, and it has 3 different pools for the whole family to enjoy.

As well as having the different pool areas, Calypso Cove is the home to 3 amazing looking flumes, a slide that’s perfect for little ones, as it goes down into the shallow end of the pool, and a fantastically fun four-lane open slide that’s great for racing your friends! There’s even a diving board made to look and feel as if you’re about to walk the plank. How cool is that?!

After your swim, you can enjoy a tasty treat at The Hideout poolside restaurant. It looks like they do some really delicious snacks and meals, and I’ll definitely be taking the kids to eat there when we finally go for our swim. I hope we can cross this off our bucket list of places we’d like to visit quite early in the year, as like I mentioned before, the kids have been wanting to check it out for years.

02. Thomas Land

Next up, I’ve picked out the amazing Thomas Land at Drayton Manor Theme Park. My mum and I took Oscar for the day back in 2016, and we thoroughly enjoyed it. Despite only just turning 3 back then, he remembers it really well and often asks if we can go back. And of course, I always say yes!

Next time we visit, though, I’d love to take advantage of their ‘Stay & Play’ offer, so Oscar can enjoy spending the night in one of their Thomas themed bedrooms. I just know he’d love it! Thomas Land is the perfect place to take little ones who are fans of the TV show, as there are loads of rides and attractions for them to enjoy. And I’m pleased to say they’re all age appropriate.

When we visited last, our favourite rides were Diesel’s Locomotive Mayhem, Harold’s Helicopter Tours, and the Bertie Bus ride. I think Oscar would get more out of it if we went again as he’d be able to go on some of the bigger rides. I really hope we can go back at some point this year.

03. Shrek the Musical

I’m not sure whether or not I’ve mentioned this before, but my daughter, Stacey, is a big fan of singer Amelia Lily. And this year she’ll be playing the part of Princess Fiona in Shrek the Musical, which you’ll know we’ve been wanting to see for absolutely ages if you happened to take a look at my theatre bucket list last year.

The show is a touring one, too. And I noticed that it’s coming to both nearby Nottingham and Sheffield, which should mean we’ll be in with a good chance of seeing it at some point. Yay! Oscar keeps saying that he doesn’t want to see it as it will be scary, but he’s been to absolutely loads of shows over the last few years, so I think he will be OK. If you’ve seen it, let me know in the comments below if it’s suitable for young children or not. I’m sure it will be.

I think it would make Stacey’s year if she got to see Amelia in a musical. I didn’t take her to see American Idiot with me, so she’s never seen her perform live on stage before. She really is amazing, though. She has an incredible voice and really knows how to grab an audience’s attention. I bet she’ll be just as fantastic in Shrek!

04. Red Kangaroo Trampoline Park

Trampoline Parks are big news right now, and both Stacey and Oscar are dying to visit Red Kangaroo, which opened up on the outskirts of Nottingham last year. Firm in the belief that everyone is born to bounce; Red Kangaroo’s Trampoline Park features sessions and facilities for all ages and abilities. As well as a huge main court with wall-to-wall trampolines, which are much bigger than the industry standard.

As well as the main court, Red Kangaroo have a whole host of additional aerial activities such as an assault course that features a demanding vertical climbing wall, hanging bags to swing from and ‘doors’ to clamber through, all without touching the ground, an awesome wipeout game where players jump over or duck under a rotating sweeper arm while trying desperately to perch safely on their podiums without toppling off, a double cardio wall for two people to test endurance and reaction skills against each other, and loads more.

From what we’ve seen online, Red Kangaroo looks a lot bigger and better than any of the other Trampoline Parks we’ve visited in the area, and we’re hoping to visit over half term so we can all burn off lots of energy!

05. Flamingo Land

At the end of the summer last year, we went to Flamingo Land for the day. And we had the best time ever! There were loads of amazing rides for the kids to enjoy. And Oscar discovered he loved the bigger thrill ones rather than the ones aimed at his age group, which made for an interesting day! LOL.

One of the main reasons I wanted to take the kids to Flamingo Land was because it was one of my favourite places to go when I was their age. I imagined it had probably changed a lot over the years, but it was almost exactly as I remembered it. But with lots more rides and attractions, of course.

Sadly, we didn’t get time to explore the whole of the park, as it was super busy with it being the school holidays, but we still thoroughly enjoyed it. And Oscar sobbed most of the way home because he didn’t want to leave! This year I’d like to stay over one weekend so we can enjoy everything the park has to offer. I know the kids would love that too. Of all the places I’ve put down on my list, I know this is the one we’ll definitely visit again this year.

06. Disneyland Paris

Next up on my list of places I’d love to take my kids this year is Disneyland Paris. And I’ve got to admit that there’s a super selfish reason behind this one. Basically, Stacey is going on a school trip to Paris in 2019, and one of the places they get to visit while they’re there is Disneyland. But I always imagined that I’d be the first person to see her reaction if we were ever lucky enough to visit. So now I’m desperate to take her before she goes with her friends. That’s so bad, isn’t it?!

Both Stacey and Oscar have been asking for years to go to Disneyland Paris. We’re kind of Disney crazy in our house, and I know they’d love to meet their favourite characters, and see the parades and firework displays and stuff. I think they’d really enjoy all the rides as well.

07. Disney on Ice Worlds of Enchantment

As I mentioned before, the kids and I love a bit of Disney and very often head to Nottingham Arena to see the latest Disney on Ice. This year’s show is called ‘World of Enchantment’, and it has four different stories in it: Cars, Frozen, Toy Story 3, and The Little Mermaid. And as Stacey’s a big fan of Cars, and Buzz Lightyear is Oscar’s hero, I’d really love to take them to see it!

Disney on Ice never seems to lose its magic, no matter how many times we go to see it. And the skaters are just incredible. Stacey and I have seen all 4 of this year’s stories brought to life on the ice before, but we’ve both agreed that we’d still love to see them again. I just need to keep my fingers crossed that tickets don’t sell out before I manage to get hold of some.

08. The Algarve

Next on my list of places I’d love to take my kids this year is The Algarve in Portugal. We’ve not been on a foreign holiday since Stacey was 2, and I’ve recently found myself wanting to jump on a plane and enjoy the warmer climes of somewhere like Portugal.

It would be my dream to stay in a lovely villa with a private pool so the kids can go for a swim whenever they wanted, and I could take lots and lots of photographs without having to worry about being told off because I might get other people’s children in them.

As well as spending lots of time just relaxing, and splashing in the pool, I’d love to check out the local area and maybe go on a boat trip or something similar. It seems like The Algarve has a lot to offer, and I’d really love to explore it. I know that Stacey would enjoy it too, as she’s always saying how much her friends love their foreign holidays! Have you ever been to The Algarve? If so, let me know what you thought of it in the comments below.

09. Camp Bestival

When I was younger, I really enjoyed going to music festivals with my older brother, and it’s definitely something I’d like my two to experience at some point too. And Camp Bestival looks like the perfect first festival to take them to! If you’ve never heard of it before, Camp Bestival is a multi-award winning festival that combines an all-encompassing family festival experience with an action-packed camping holiday!

Set in the majestic grounds of Lulworth Castle, on Dorset’s dramatic Jurassic coastline, Camp Bestival is jam-packed with entertainment! From first-class musical performances and cultural delights to stunning sideshow attractions and lashings of family fun.

Camp Bestival has something for everyone, which is perfect for someone like me, whose kids have a ten year age gap between them! Oscar would be sure to enjoy the soft play area and circus skills, and Stacey would love seeing some of her favourite bands and having a go at go-karting! I think it would make the perfect little getaway for us this summer.

10. Disney Cruise

If I had to name just one thing I’ve always wanted to do, I would have to say it’s to go on a cruise. I always think they look so glamorous! But if I’m being honest, I don’t think my kids would be quite as excited to go on a cruise as I would be. And that’s why I’d like to take them on a Disney Cruise instead!

Yes, our love of Disney has made another appearance. I’m so sorry! But their cruise’s combine a trip around lots of different places with a little bit of Disney magic! The cruise ships look absolutely incredible, and there are plenty of dining options, kids clubs, and evening entertainment to keep the whole family happy.

You can even meet your favourite characters on board. And have certain meals with them, just like you can at the theme parks. I think a Disney Cruise would prove to be a big hit with the kids. But if I’m being honest, it’s likely to be the one thing on my list that we won’t get to do. Purely because they’re quite pricey. A girl can dream, though. Can’t she?

11. Yorkshire Wildlife Park

I don’t know about you guys, but we love visiting zoos and wildlife parks as a family. And one that we’ve been meaning to visit for years is the Yorkshire Wildlife Park. I mean, it’s practically on our doorstep! It’s said to be a dynamic centre for conservation and welfare, and it boasts over 400 animals and over 70 different species. How cool is that?

Oscar loves looking at different animals, and learning about where they come from and what sorts of things they like to eat etc. So I think he’d thoroughly enjoy it here. They have lots of our favourite animals from lions, tigers, lemurs and leopards, to zebras, rhinos, giant otters, meerkats, and everything in between! I think it would make a fantastic day out that we’d all enjoy.

12. LaplandUK

And last, but certainly not least, this year I would love to take the kids to LaplandUK this year! If you’ve never heard of it before, LaplandUK is an original adaptation of the Father Christmas story and the secret world of the elves brought to life through a 4-hour immersive experience of unprecedented scale and quality.

When you book the experience you get a personalised invitation and entry into Father Christmas’ arctic homeland, an Elf Passport for every child, all activities at the venue, ice skating and a beautiful gift for every child. Also included is one photograph of your children with Father Christmas per booking. Plus a Christmas Morning Thank You card from Father Christmas!

The whole experience just looks magical, and if you’d like to read more about it, then make sure you check out my lovely friend Rebecca’s review of it by clicking here. I know my two would thoroughly enjoy this (despite one of them being a teenager), and I think it would help add an extra layer of magic to Christmas this year. I actually want to go right now!

And there you have it, 12 places I would love to take my kids this year. I hope you enjoyed having a read, and that it’s inspired you to check out a few new places in 2018 as well.

Have you ever visited any of the places on my list?
Don’t forget to let me know in the comments below.
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